Hola Costa Rica

We left Chris watching the American football apparently he has grown to love. All we can say is, let’s start this next and final journey. Costa Rica.

We are flying to San Jose,Costa Rica . But first an overnight in the Hilton at Mexico City airport hotel mmm…..another one that you think, this should be good. All it is, is convenient . We are up early the next morning to line up with all the other punters and there are many, this is a very busy airport to check in to San Jose, Costa Rica. As the line slowly doodles towards the ones of power the check-in people . Then comes the what the, moment they are charging us for being over weight by 3 kgs on our carry-on. Now we have used Interjet on many flights and not once have they weighed our carry on. So the little rip off merchants charged us $30US that $10 US per kilo, far out. What do you do ? you have no choice and you pay. Well lets go and find the gate and wait and wait until the gate comes up for departure. So we are 30mins before departure time no gate, maybe no plane. No staff around to ask they have done a runner. Interjet is the winner airline this year. We started having a chat with a bloke who was going on the same plane first time too using Interjet. So he was a seasoned traveller by the stories he was deluging to us. He could speak Spanish a lot more than us and found out which gate. Your the man. We walk like we need the loo desperately to this gate then not much was happening. So we wait and we wait and we wait then adventurely we see some movement up front. The old and frail and children are boarding this plane that is a good sign, thank god. Its 3 hours a wonderful flying to San Jose.

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We get off then we are met by a guy that directs us through customs the locals cue. Bam, we are through in minutes. Thanks guy in hi-vis you made our day. Collect our numerous bags and we are driven over to the domestic airport to get on the most teeny weeny plane I have ever seen or been in. There is only 4 seats and one for the pilot and co-pilot or passenger and 4 seats behind if you were a leprechaun. We are 90 mins behind schedule. What can we do nothing just smile and say sorry. We are flying to Limon a 35min flight on the Carribean side of Costa Rica. The fight over is very scenic and such green lush landscape. Noisy though but the other alternative was 5-7 hour drive. So we opted for the I think I am super important mode of transport.It was the best option by far. We are met at Limon tiny airport on the oceans edge. It was like another experience like no other. The guy siting at a desk outside takes our passports writes it down on this scrap piece of paper asks Carlos our pilot some details and bam you can leave. Gracias. We in for another hours drive south to Puerto Viejo the roads are good our driver was excellent. I think he was so over waiting for us as by then we are 2 hours late arriving. Then we have arrived at Aguas Claras that is name of the second to last hotel of this massive 13 months away. Its’ beautiful the buildings so Carribean. White with large verandahs, the colour. We have arrived and we are both happy puppies well as happy as a pig in shit.

Our room is gorgeous our bathroom has a door and walls. You appreciate the small stuff. The verandah is so good we have a couch. Oh my so god. I am sounding like some bitch here but I am not a backpacker traveller I like creature comforts and it was lacking. So no more on that. Finished

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So here we are for 10 days surrounded by jungle with Carribean sea to swim in. Loving it already. The staff are just lovely. Food is delicious. The cocktails are fabo. The bed is like sleeping on a cloud. The shower is just amazing the decor I want to take it home. They have bikes to go for a ride. So yesterday we rode in to the town of Tamanaca about 5kms of flat and oh so easy ride. It was beautiful sunny day. Found a shop called Roam surf shop. We have been deprived badly. No shops in Puerto Escondido that was worthy of a visit.Tony wanted board shorts no chance of that there. So if anybody was looking to open a good shop with good surfboards and surf clothing there is definitely an opening thats for sure. We went in like kids in a candy store to excited. Its been months since we have been shopping to replace some worn out can’t wear this any more I need some new things shop. Tony was smiling. I bought a small item because I couldn’t let him have all the pleasure. So after the most exhilarating experience in a shop we left and got on the deadly treadly and headed back to heaven for a swim and beautiful walk on the beach. That is only day 2, day 3 its raining and that is why I am writing today. We have yet to visit the Sloth sanctuary just up the road but the rain has been very constant today and tomorrow everyday.

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Today we visited the wonderful volunteers at the Jaguar Rescue Sanctuary. The ticket is $20US but that is like a donation to the most wonderful work these volunteers do. We had Max very interesting individual with a great way of providing us with the information of the work they do. We saw the area were the sloths are on their finals stage of getting well or being educated to survive on their own as some are orphaned so no mother to teach them.. They are just adorable to watch their slow movements. Costa Rica has bought in a law that you aren’t allowed to take selfies with any of the animals that live in their beautiful country . To eliminate the terrible trade of the suffering of these creatures at the hands of us humans that don’t feed them right tie them up just to make a buck. Just horrid. They the police seize animals that are pets so the cute little baby monkey that was making them bucks is now is ripping their house apart. So these creatures need to be re-educated too about living in a group the family and hierarchy of it all. When I heard of this law I thought other countries should adopt such a practice. Where we have just come from Peru where the ladies and girls walk around with baby lamas in Cusco to get a tourist to take a photo holding the baby lama for money. I am guilty as the light of day, I did do this. But after I thought what about the mother of that baby isn’t she pining for her baby to feed and nuture. The carers of the baby lamas had milk with them and they fed them. Had them wrapped up in their shawls. But that doesn’t take away the fact they have taken a few day old lama aways from its mother. I could rant and rave about this practice with many different species of animals that are used for the only purpose is to get the “gram” photo. That is where social media has gone to far in the wrong direction.

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After that we rode the deadly treadles to lunch, it was a nice day. Feeling very positive about people and their caring of the animals in this world. How good is riding a bike with the wind in your hair so made us feel like the old days. When helmets was not a compulsory item attached to your head. The traffic is very mindful of the bikes and goes slow or wide. You can feel the vibe of Pura Vida here. Take life slow and keep it simple basically. Great saying they have adopted. Love it….

Most night it rains, no it pours, so much rain. The surf is certainly up huge waves that are over 3m out front with a huge tides so we got on our favourite mode of transport and explore the coast to take some photos and watched some surfers out. In that surf is some floating logs and reefs everywhere. The swell is every which way.

Days pass with reading and just enjoying the jungle and with surprises of birds might land in our little patch of greenness . One day we had a flock of toucans so amazing so colourful so lucky too.

Our 10 days pasted with a blink. It is so strange how you think 10 days what shall we do but the time passes the days click over and you are at the end of the a beautiful stay on the lush and very green coast of Puerto Viejo.

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We are heading now to our final and very last stop Saint Teresa on the pacific coast. So back to San Jose airport on a slightly larger plane its such a quick flight to catch another plane over to Tambour which is only 25mins in a plane. We are picked up at this small but busy little airport. Driven an hour or so to the coast where we have our last and final hotel. Latitude 10. Its on the beach we can see and hear the ocean .We have howler monkeys in the trees a few iguanas a boa constrictor snake that hangs up very high in the tree. Thank-goodness. The weather is completely different to the Caribbean side and the landscape too. Here it is dry and hot on the Carribean side is damp and hot. Most of our clothes when we opened the bag where damp so its nice to dry everything out. Our Birkenstocks had some mould growing on them as that cork base was like a sponge to all that moisture.

The beach is lovely just a short walk left of our hotel we can swim in the warm water of the pacific ocean .There is a fabulous beach restaurant La Rocca were you can get your fix of kale and green smoothies. All things green to feel healthy wealthy and wise. Plus watch the beauties parade pass. winking emoji insert here.

We used the hotels bikes one day to see the small town of Saint Teresa which was about 5kms on a gravelled road. So, so dusty most of the people using the ATV’s to get around on had bandannas or face masks on the dust is just full on.

We did find this great shop as we were looking for a gift or two to take home something small but original. We found #designbysig she made handmade jewellery not like expensive but more creative costume jewellery. We spent some time in her shop apart form it was air conditioned. She had this great frankness on life which had us laughing all of the time we decided what to choose and it was hard everything was as good as the next. We decided I hope the recipients like it.

We feel like now we are just filling in time here not that interested in much other than just getting home. So reading several books has been on the agenda.

When we said yes to this trip the planning took a year to sort out a few things and get organised. Like a plan of where to go and how. It was always follow the sun, that was a given. Then we think if we didn’t meet our inspirations in India this trip would have never happened at all. The thought would have never ever crossed our minds. So we have a lot to thank Mark & Jim for being the Inspiration.

We had some challenges that year before we left Tony’s mum passed away suddenly in January. Tony’s dad was on his own at 93 and he was very sad he had lost his wife and best friend so suddenly he was lost. Then in October just before his 94th birthday he suddenly passed away too. Having to deal with all that loss and family being family when there is loss in the family can bring out some very strange attributes to their personality too.

Leaving our boys and their wonderful partners, our puppies. Missing Tyron & Marley’s engagement party during the year. They are saying ‘I do’ 6 weeks after our return. So that will be full of love and joy to look forward to.

Finding out that our beautiful dog Milo who is 11 years old has cancer so at least we will have some time with her before the cancer takes hold.

Finding out one of dear friends we have known well since we were very young has cancer. That makes our heart break as he is our age well, a little younger. We hear now that he only has weeks left. Hang in there mate we are coming to see you as soon as we return.

Finding out also that a couple you have known since we were both very young have decided to go seperate ways. We wish we were there for them.

All these events happened in a year that you have no control over. But you want to be there to support and hug the one who is going through the bad and hug the ones that are starting and celebrating a new life together. But it’s hard to be everywhere.

The whole year it has been so amazing the places we have seen the people we have met that can’t believe what we are doing . We hope that we have inspired them to do their #parentalgapyear. When we look back I think, did we really do that. Did we really ride that path and climb that mountain. Everyday wasn’t the same. It was an adventure of the unknown of what you would find each day. Who you would meet. What delicious food you might be tasting. Its on the verge of being all over. What an amazing adventure. We loved every moment and we can hang together 24/7. Life is good no problem we are the best of friends and travel with the same mind set and sense of adventure. Always on the same page.

We loved the moments when we met our friends overseas and family that was so much fun and what beautiful moments that will stay in our hearts forever.

When we get home next week we are having a “Missed you guys party” because why not, the jet lag will be lingering still I imagine so we can party all night. Hahaaaa….. we do love a party as any of our friends at home will know. I just need to give them a hug all at once.

Then on my last and final thought the things we took with us that were essentials and couldn’t go without and glad we had them:

#skyroam our portable wifi has been the best. Some countries it didn’t work in but pretty well worked in most of them. All 28 or so we visited. I just felt better that I had some wifi straight away when leaving an airport so I knew where we are going and not being taken on a joy ride.

Our Osprey bags have been fantastic we left with 16 and 18kgs and we have 20 & 23kgs now but they have fitted into the need of a soft travel bag when required on some flights. Plus there is a life time warranty on them so if they rip they can be fixed as mine has so that will be repaired when we get home.

My Cannon SLR camera you a weighty thing to lug around but you take the stunning photos I am glad I had you.

Our swell water bottles double insulted they are the best. We had a little water probe as well to serialise the water used that a few times.

Our medical kit of antibiotics that we have used all of, super glad we had that.

Of course our MacBook Air some might travel with an iPad but this is so much better for downloading the photos editing and just watching Netflix .

I think that is it. We never lost anything along the way but we did have my Bose noise cancelling heads phones stolen in Cuba. What do you do they are gone. That’s ok you can have them. You sneak…..

We did send home things extra clothing that was no longer needed. We have packages at home of art we have purchased along the way. It will be like Christmas. All the little things we have bought. It will be fun.

My last and final little input to this amazing adventure and blog will be after we get home. The reaction of our puppies, do they still recognise us. Our fun gathering at home and seeing our handsome boys and partners. So stay tuned.

Till then, thanks for reading my take on this adventure. I am not a writer I am story teller so my grammar is never perfect its what I think and what my fingers type. So it’s never perfect by any shape or form. I may not have dotted the ‘I”s or crossed at the ‘T”s but I tried.

Hope you enjoyed riding our wave of adventure.

Adios